Streamer Fishing

[lar42]

When I fish in Western North Carolina using streamers, mostly woolly buggers, I catch trout coming and going. However, I can't seem to duplicate that success on the Farmington. :? I normally try to fish in a dead drift in nice deep spot somewhere but I get nothing. Any ideas? Thanks for the help!

[sjpresley]

Mike:

I'd like to buy some of the Foxy B's, I didn't see them on your web site, should I just e-mail you through the "contact" link on the web site to order some?

Thanks.

[Redwings1]

Not having fished the Farmington, yet..., this has limited value but perhaps one of the rivers regulars can comment. I have fished browns all over the country and have found that I can prey on their predatory instincts by rip-stripping juvenile brown trout or sculpin streamers from the bank. The quick action to the substantially sized fly forces them to make a quick decision and strike out of reflex as much as anything else.

[sjpresley]

Wow, that time stamp was an hour off.

Anyway, I fish streamers pretty actively, usually across, down and across, or down (and everywhere in betwee depending on structure and current) with various stripping speeds. Think of it as spinner fishing with a fly rod.

[Redwings1]

Wow, that time stamp was an hour off.

I thought I had posted the first response... :?
I sent you a PM sjpresley

[The Fisherman]

I have had limited success fishing buggers at a dead drift, better luck letting them "stream" in the current at the end of a drift, and by far the most success stripping them in.

[lar42]

I have had limited success fishing buggers at a dead drift, better luck letting them "stream" in the current at the end of a drift, and by far the most success stripping them in.

Do you mean by "stream in the current" letting them rise at the end of the drift? Or did miss the ball? :oops:

Thanks!

[Redwings1]

perhaps casting across current and then letting your line bow and pull the fly across the stream in an arc...fish have a tendency to follow and then hit he fly as it gets to the end of the arc and straightens back out to 'face' upstream

[Richard W. Fleet]

I too am struggling a bit fishing streamers. Last time out fished a variety of streamers. Greatest number of hits on an olive wooly bugger. Cast across and allowed current to swing the streamer. Most hits came towards the end of the swing. Had a number of hits but missed most. What am I doing wrong?

[Redwings1]

Richard, a common problem with trout, especially in stained water, is short striking when you strip streamers past them. If your fly extends to far past the hook bend that could be your problem...they could be hitting the tail of the fly behind the hook. Another possibility in clear water is that you are setting the hook on sight, but you are actually acting faster than the fish and pulling the fly out of i's mouth before it has the opportunity to take it. That is also a common problem when fishing dry flies...setting the hook on the water boil as opposed to the take and in doing so pulling the fly away. Hard to say without seeing you in the water, but hope this helps.

[Richard W. Fleet]

Thanks for the advice Redwings1. The river was clear and I was fishing deeeeep (bead head + some shot). It kinda felt like they were hitting short. In fact a couple of times I could feel a couple of head shakes and came up empty after the set. In the past I have yanked the streamer right out of the trout's mouth but this time I think you maybe right - hitting the tail. Thanks again. With the great advice I'm getting it won't be long before I'll think I know what I'm doing.

[lar42]

Thanks for all the advice. Hopefully, I can parlay that into experience. :D

[Sculpin]

I am by know means an expert but from expierence I found the best times to use streamers on the farmington in a slow pool is in the summer when there is a breeze causing a surface chop chances are it will surpasses nymphing in that it allows you to cover a lot more water quicker. Good Luck!

[h.ridley]

:D I also am no expert, but in the conditions you describe, I would cast across and upstream. when the line starts to bow, begin to strip slowly in fast water and quickly in slow water. It sometimes works for me. I netted many fish that way last week before the rain. However I might have been imagining the whole experience. My pills ran out and my shrink is on vacation, at least, I think so. Oh for some zanex!!
Howie



(Tis a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.)W.S.

[sjpresley]

I'm having problems with them striking short as well. I've been getting a hoot set about once every 4-5 strikes. It's starting to give me a complex.

Part of the problem may be that I've been using a wooly bugger with a nice long tail, but I seem to garner more strikes with it that I have with a Mickey or a coachman.

[Redwings1]

One other thing I thought of to help the action when stripping....attach the fly using a loop knot so that the fly can swing more freely. Sometimes when the fishing is slow that extra little bit of action gained by doing that can entice a reticent fish into a take.

[lar42]

Redwings1,

Are you talking about something like a Duncans Loop?



One other thing I thought of to help the action when stripping....attach the fly using a loop knot so that the fly can swing more freely. Sometimes when the fishing is slow that extra little bit of action gained by doing that can entice a reticent fish into a take.

[Farmy Joe]

I think he's referring to a non slip loop. This is what I use. http://www.cabelas.com/information/cabelas-field-guides/Knot-Library-Fishing-Knots/Non-Slip-Mono-Loop-Knot.html

[ctoutdoorsman]

Check out Upcountry. They have a little olive bugger, probably a size 10 or 12, I don't really know, but every post I put up killing them on streamer fishing was 90% with these streamers. They are nice and small and virtually eliminate short strikes. I'm sure Grady can put you on some, they're really awesome!

[Redwings1]

Any non-slip loop knot will do the trick. The one that FarmyJoe posted will definitely work 8)

[lar42]

Hey, thanks guys. I'll give it a try.

[flyrodder]

Two words:

low light.

Best streamer fishing is usually between dawn and about 10AM and once the sun starts to get off the water until dusk. The exception would be winter when the best fishing is often late morning through the afternoon. I would say generally down and across is the most productive method.

Fish can still be caught on streamers during the day but they will most likely be in the faster water and you will often have to get the fly down on the bottom.

The best thing about low light is that the big trout are often in shallower water where the baitfish are and they are usually eager to strike.

Streamers are probably the most productive flies for fishing the Farmington year round. I have had more than my share of 20+ fish days, and usually bigger fish too.